Impact of study area features of selected resident female students of GB Pant University on their academic performance, perceived stress and satisfaction
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Date
2005-06
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Students in higher education are at crucial stage in life. The goal of an achievement oriented scholar would be to excel in studies and emerge competent and confident to face the challenges lying in the job market and make a mark in life. A major facilitator apart from demand driven curriculum and competent educators or faculty, is the environment and the quality of study area/work area available to the students to perform in a stress free and satisfactory condition.
Until recent times ergonomists have tried to improve industrial situation by improving the conditions of work, but workstations in residential and non-commercial buildings like hostels have been neglected to a great extent.
Present investigation was done to gain insight into the study related activities of 150 female students in hostels of G.B. Pant University, posture adopted while performing different activities, physical and environmental features, selected anthropometric measurements as well as extent of stress and satisfaction perceived by them in their study area.
Results of the study showed that mainly ten study activities were performed by students and there is variation between adopted and preferred postures while performing different activities. Maximum average duration was found in case of sustained reading i.e. 2 hours and 13 minutes. Majority of students changed their postures with fifteen minutes in all work place i.e. study tables and chair, cot and floor. Environmental parameters except illumination (temperature, humidity, noise level, air velocity) were within recommended values. According to the sample of students most inappropriate part of infrastructure facility was found to be „chair back‟ with the least score of 1.1 and „mid back‟ was found to be major pain area while working on study table and chair and cot with the highest score of 4.0 and „legs‟ and „shoulder‟ in the case of working at floor with the highest score of 2.38 and 2 respectively. Students perceived „feeling of sleepiness‟ and „difficulty in concentrated study‟ as manifestation of stress with the highest mean score of 3.2 in both cases in a five point scale. „No cushioning in seat‟ was found a factor for dissatisfaction. Statistical analysis showed that there was found significant negative correlation between appropriateness of study area features and perceived stress level as well as postural discomfort and satisfaction perceived by students and positive correlation between appropriateness of study area features and satisfaction level perceived by students.